State lawmaker drops effort to move up school start date

The Associated Press

Published: April 9, 2013

TALLAHASSEE — The sponsor of a bill to move up the school starting date says the effort is dead for this year.
A House panel was supposed to take up the bill today, but Rep. Larry Metz, R-Yalaha, pulled the bill from consideration.
Metz said he's dropping the effort for 2013 because the Senate has refused to move a similar bill. Metz said he will try again next year.
Metz's bill (HB 657) would have allowed school districts to move up the starting date of school to three weeks before Labor Day.

The measure would undo a law pushed by former Gov. Jeb Bush. Bush backed the change after complaints from parents about school starting dates.
School districts designated as academically high performing are allowed to start school earlier.